Suu Kyi upbeat about post-poll Myanmar

Opposition leader calls for co-operation to build genuine democracy, as her party claims winning all seats it contested.

05 Apr 2012 03:34 GMT

Pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has struck an optimistic note about Myanmar's future, saying this week's by-elections, which her party claimed to have won overwhelmingly, could be the harbinger of a "new era".

Her National League for Democracy (NLD) says it won all 44 parliamentary seats it contested, including the one Suu Kyi was standing for.

The veteran activist's election to political office, if confirmed, would mark the latest change in the country after decades of outright military rule ended last year. It would also be the Nobel laureate's first foray into parliament.

"This is not so much our triumph as a triumph for people who have decided that they must be involved in the political process in this country," Suu Kyi said in a victory speech at her party headquarters in Yangon on Monday.

MYANMAR'S POLITICAL PARTIES

A total of 17 parties competed in the by-election, with four main contenders for the 45 seats on offer

National League for Democracy: The NLD was founded in 1988 by Aung San Suu Kyi after a popular uprising against military rule

Union Solidarity and Development Party: The USDP won about 80 per cent of the seats available in 2010, and is backed by the military

National Democratic Force: The NDF is made up of breakaway NLD leaders, who opposed Suu Kyi's decision not to run in 2010

The NLD won a landslide election victory in 1990 but the ruling military never allowed it to take office. The party also boycotted the 2010 polls that swept the army's political proxies to power and were marred by complaints of cheating and intimidation.